Search Hammond Police Records

Hammond police records include incident reports, arrest logs, crash documents, and other public law enforcement files created by the Hammond Police Department in Lake County, Indiana. Hammond is one of the largest cities in the northwest Indiana region, and the police department handles a high volume of records requests. Requests are processed through the city's 311 system and follow Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. This page explains how to find records, what to expect, and where to look for related county and state resources.

Hammond Police Department

The Hammond Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for the city of Hammond. You can reach the department at (219) 853-6490. The city's main website is at gohammond.com, where you can find department contacts, news, and access to city services. Hammond sits in the northwest corner of Indiana, bordering Illinois and the southern shore of Lake Michigan, making it one of the most densely populated areas in the state.

Hammond uses a 311 system to handle public records requests. This is a city-managed intake process that routes requests to the right department. When you call 311 or submit a request through the 311 portal, the request is logged and assigned to records staff. You get a tracking number and can follow up using that number. This system helps manage the volume of requests the city receives across all departments, not just police.

In-person visits to the police department are also an option. Bring as much information as you can: the case number, the date of the incident, the location, and the names of any parties involved. Staff can look up the record and let you know whether it's available and what the fee will be. Call ahead to confirm business hours and make sure the records window will be staffed when you arrive.

The Hammond city website at gohammond.com serves as the main portal for police department information and city services including the 311 records request system.

From this page you can navigate to the 311 request system, find police department contact information, and access other public safety resources maintained by the city of Hammond.

Requesting Hammond Police Records

Indiana's Access to Public Records Act at IC 5-14-3 governs all public records requests in the state. Any person can request public law enforcement records from the Hammond Police Department. You do not need to be a resident, and you do not have to explain why you want the record. The department has 7 days to respond. If they need more time, they must tell you in writing. Silence is treated as a denial under the law.

Hammond routes records requests through the city's 311 system. You can reach 311 by phone or online through the city's website. When you submit a request, provide a clear description of the records you need: case number, date of incident, location, and names of parties involved. The more detail you give, the faster staff can find the right record. Requests that lack identifying information may come back with a request for clarification, which can add time to the process.

Fees apply for copies. Indiana law lets agencies charge reasonable fees for copying public records. The Hammond Police Department will tell you the fee before releasing documents. Body camera footage requests under IC 5-14-3-5.1 may carry higher fees due to time spent on redaction. If any part of a request is denied, the department must send written notice citing the specific exemption under IC 5-14-3-4. Ongoing investigations, juvenile records, and confidential informant information are among the most common exemptions.

Note: The Indiana Public Access Counselor at in.gov/pac offers free assistance if you believe a denial was improper or the agency failed to respond on time.

Crash Reports in Hammond

Traffic accident reports from Hammond police are available through BuyCrash.com. The Indiana State Police maintains a central statewide crash report database, and BuyCrash is the public access portal for that system. All crash reports filed by Indiana law enforcement agencies, including Hammond PD and the Lake County Sheriff, flow into the same database. You need the report number, or the date and names of parties involved, to locate a report. A nominal fee applies for downloading.

Hammond borders Illinois, and some crashes near the state line may involve Illinois law enforcement. If ISP did not respond and the other agency was not Indiana-based, the crash report may not be in the BuyCrash system. In that case, contact the Hammond Police Department directly to confirm which agency filed the report.

State Police Records Resources for Hammond

The Indiana State Police runs a Limited Criminal History (LCH) search at in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch. This covers felony and Class A misdemeanor arrests from all 92 Indiana counties, including Lake County and Hammond. The fee is $15.70 by credit card or $7 by mail. Results come back as ON FILE, NOT ON FILE, or NO RECORDS FOUND. Inconclusive results may need a fingerprint-based follow-up through ISP.

For records held directly by the Indiana State Police, use the ISP APRA portal. The Indiana Sex Offender Registry is free and searchable by name, zip, or county. The statewide Protection Order Registry covers active restraining orders filed in Indiana courts. Court case records including criminal cases from Lake County can be searched at no cost through MyCase Indiana.

Lake County Resources

Hammond is in Lake County, the most populous county in Indiana. The Lake County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement outside city limits and manages the county jail in Crown Point, the county seat. For incidents outside Hammond city limits, county jail and inmate records, or warrant information, visit the Lake County police records page. Lake County covers several major cities including Gary, East Chicago, and Merrillville, so jurisdiction questions come up frequently along city boundary lines.

Court filings from Lake County, including criminal cases, civil matters, and protection orders, are searchable through MyCase. Criminal cases filed against Hammond residents in Lake County courts should appear in the MyCase system within a few days of filing.

Hammond Body Camera Footage Requests

Body camera footage requests at the Hammond Police Department are handled under IC 5-14-3-5.1. To request footage, you must provide the date, approximate time, location of the incident, and the name of at least one non-officer who was involved. Agencies must retain recordings for at least 190 days from the incident date.

Footage may be withheld when it involves active investigations, juveniles, confidential informants, or material that could compromise a fair trial. When only part of the footage is exempt, the department must release the rest with that portion redacted. Fees for redaction work can apply up to $150 in many cases. The department must disclose the estimated cost before beginning any redaction. All denials must come in writing with a citation to the specific exemption under IC 5-14-3-4.

The state's criminal intelligence records, defined under IC 5-2-4, are also exempt from general disclosure. These cover intelligence gathered on individuals in connection with anticipating or preventing criminal activity, and are not available through a standard public records request regardless of whether the case is open or closed.

Nearby Qualifying Cities

Other Indiana cities near Hammond with police records resources include:

County Records

Hammond is located in Lake County. For sheriff's office records, county jail data, and county-level law enforcement information, visit the Lake County police records page.